Well we're finally here. Or that is to say, we've been here for a while I just didn't make a new topic. Ange has the super special Truth Book, and is all set to read it and learn what REALLY happened on those faithful days in 1986. But is the truth all that she bargained for? Will Noted Huge Traitor Man Battler be able to make her see things his way? I hope not because I wanna know the truth too!!!---

- The game Ange saw in Episode's 7 epilogue is actually what really happened: She just couldn't accept it then (and maybe even couldn't now).

- I think I said this before, but I think it's possible that we've seen two different futures for Ange: one where she finds Eva's diary and one where she doesn't. If she finds the diary, she throws herself off the building, if she doesn't she goes on that weird adventure to Rokkenjima, ultimately finding nothing (except maybe closure????)

- Ange really did commit suicide: everything we've seen in this VN is just her final thoughts before she hits the ground (I hope this isn't true!!).

- All the events we've seen so far have all been in Ange's imagination. It's really the onle way to explain EVERYTHING.---

In fact, perhaps some combination of these are true. We've seen Ange playing around with illusionary characters in her early life, perhaps like Yasu she has multiple personas. These characters in the games aren't just pieces on a board, they are pieces of Ange's mind and psyche and their appearances are based off of Maria's book and her love of magic. The games are inspired by the various rumors and theories she's heard people talk about over the years, her imagination filling in the gaps with her dear brother fighting against the witch in between them.

Episode 7 could perhaps represent her seeing the truth, maybe through finding the diary, but rejecting it at first. And now her mind is in battle with itself, to accept that truth or ignore it. A battle to trying go from "knowing" to "not knowing" as it were.---

There was a very interesting conversation between Ange and Erika. It seems like Ange has accepted that what is in the book won't be an earth-shattering secret, and certainly won't bring any amazing revelations. Still, Ange is committed to reading it. A bit more shaming happens here, Erika equates reading the book as splitting open Beatrice's body and going through the guts. Thankfully, Ange won't back down.---

Upon getting the info Lambadelta has, Battler says this could be the shot at "taking Ange and the key back." Now see this rubs me the wrong way. This isn't about having a conversation with Ange and maybe trying to convince her. No, Battler and his side think they KNOW what is best for Ange, and are ready to force their will on her if need be.

How did this episode make Bernkastel, Erika, and young Eva of all characters look like the good guys?---

And now we're seeing the real(?) world. Hachijo Tohya is holding a press conference/exhibition of sorts, and is set to reveal Eva's diary. There are obvious connections to the illusion world all over the place here.---

So Ange gets the truth. We don't get to see it ourselves, of course, but I was prepared for that. In the "real" world, Ange rejects this truth still. In both worlds, Ange falls to her death, smashing into pieces (is THAT where the pieces of meat thing came from? I mean I know Ange is turned into pieces as punishment in one of the episodes, but was THAT taken from this event?). That didn't go so well, whoops.---

You know despite the fact every character said, "when Ange learns the truth, she'll die." I didn't expect it to happen so succinctly like that. Like, there was all this build up with the illusion family preparing to fight to protect their home because Ange will come back!!! And then she just get's to read he book in the next scene. That's a bit odd.---

Wait, this could be one those sneak fuck things VNs do where they play with the fact you're seeing things from a first person perspective and hide who the MC is or looks like. Can never be too careful!---

So this person was rescued by Hachijo Ikuko, who we would know to be Featherine, and given the name Hachijo Tohya for now. Now I could SWEAR Featherine's human name was Hachijo TOHYA, not Ikuko. I could be wrong though.---

Well now I don't know what to think. Ange woke up in the illusion golden land now. She is unfortunately forgiving Eva, which while it sucks is understandable given Ange current physical and emotional state.---

Wow this conversation with Battler turned everything around and made it pretty great! It's not that the truth doesn't matter, it's that it is not the only thing that matters. False hope can also cause pain, too. Maybe Ange didn't NEED to know the truth. But now that she does, she can learn and grow from it.---

Wow this conversation with Battler turned everything around and made it pretty great! It's not that the truth doesn't matter, it's that it is not the only thing that matters. False hope can also cause pain, too. Maybe Ange didn't NEED to know the truth. But now that she does, she can learn and grow from it.

Oh yeah, I think this is why I find your reaction weird. I remember that there was this point from Battler (which I agree with), but I don't remember when it was said.---

"intellectual rapists" Now come on, that's a BIT much wouldn't you say?

Like I assumed the real world and illusion worlds are mirroring each other. I assume getting the key and stopping the book from being opened would stop it in the real world too (or rather, actions in the illusion world are metaphors for what is occurring for real).---

Eva is getting a lot of play here. I wonder, if I were to go back and re-read scenes with Eva and Ange in Episode 4, would I find she wasn't actually that bad? Or was Eva in the real world ACTUALLY as bad as described, and all of this now is just Ange coming to terms with it all?---

There's an official side-story called The Witches Tanabata, it takes place after EP4. It gives a perspective on why Eva and Ange's relationship became like that. Though it's basically the same as that part in early EP8's Halloween Party with Eva, Kyrie, and Rudolf.

Well, the worst character in Umineko by miles is Kinzo. There's just no getting around that. Everything bad that happens is only possible because he always makes the worst decisions. I mean, I still think he's a great character. But wow, he's really a monster through and through.---